Walgreens Adds Executives To Pharmacy, Health And Wellness Team

Walgreens has announced 2 additions to the leadership team of its pharmacy, health and wellness division.

Jeffrey Kang, MD, MPH, will join the company on Oct. 31 as senior vice president of health and wellness services and solutions, reporting to both Greg Wasson, president and CEO, and Kermit Crawford, president of Pharmacy, Health and Wellness. Mike Ellis has joined the company as vice president of specialty pharmacy and infusion, reporting to Crawford.

“To advance community pharmacy and our role in the integration and cost-effective delivery of healthcare, we are continuing to strengthen the talent and leadership of our pharmacy, health and wellness organization,” said Crawford in a statement. “Jeff comes to Walgreens after a long and diverse career in the healthcare industry. He has experienced the industry from all sides — as a practicing physician, from inside government and in the private sector. With his extensive background in health care, Jeff has the breadth of experience and strategic insight to lead our health and wellness businesses, building a dynamic organization that helps us meet customers’ needs for access to quality, affordable healthcare.”

Most recently, Dr. Kang served as chief medical officer at CIGNA, where he was responsible for health strategy and policy for its medical, pharmacy and behavioral products. Prior to his position at CIGNA, he served as chief clinical officer at the Health Care Financing Administration (now Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) from 1998 to 2002. He also was chief medical officer for the Office of Managed Care from 1995 to 1998.

Dr. Kang began his career as the executive director of the Urban Medical Group, a not-for-profit, private group practice in Boston that pioneered the use of physician and nurse practitioner teams to care for frail, elderly patients. He is board certified in internal medicine and geriatrics and was on the clinical faculty at Harvard Medical School. He received his MD from University of California at San Francisco and his MPH from the University of California at Berkeley.

Ellis, who will serve as Walgreens’ new vice president of specialty pharmacy and infusion, is expected to bring important strategic oversight to both of those business units, according to Crawford. “Mike’s well-rounded background in specialty and infusion pharmacy includes developing strategic service relationships with the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, and building new business opportunities,” he said. “His leadership will be an important part of our opportunity to play a significant role as a provider in these growing pharmaceutical segments.”

Most recently Ellis, 53, managed private investments for companies in healthcare and other industries. Prior to that, he served as the senior vice president of specialty trade relations and contracting and pharmaceutical services for CVS Caremark. His more than 28 years of experience covers both the specialty pharmacy and infusion services industries, including senior positions with companies including AdvancePCS, Olsten Health Services and Quantum Health Resources.

Ellis is a licensed pharmacist and earned his bachelor of science degree in pharmacy in 1982 from the University of Arkansas College of Pharmacy.